A man once spoke of his troubles with Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, and Rav Shlomo Zalman assured him that despite his problems, happiness was still within his reach.
The man disagreed and said that it was impossible for someone who was enduring suffering like he was to be happy. It was simply too difficult for him to see any good in his situation.
Rav Shlomo Zalman responded to him, “I know someone who had an operation, and because of this procedure, he is deaf in one ear. He is also a widower, R”L, and three of his children are childless. But despite his tribulations, he is always cheerful and smiling.”
The man couldn’t believe the story and said, “How can he be happy after suffering so much?”
Rav Shlomo Zalman said that he was referring to himself. He has been enduring this situation, and nevertheless, he was always happy. He told the man, “If I could be happy despite all of my hardships, then other people can he happy as well, despite what they are currently going through.”
The man received a lot of Chizuk from this conversation, and he was able to move forward and work on his Simchah!
Reprinted from the Parshas Ki Savo 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
